Eagles FS Dawkins should play in opener

Aug 24, 2008 - 6:54 PM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Philadelphia Eagles free safety Brian Dawkins, who has a mild tendon strain of his right ankle, should be ready to play in the team's season opener against the St. Louis Rams on September 7.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid said Sunday that an MRI revealed the strain.

Dawkins was injured in the second quarter of Friday's preseason game against the New England Patriots. He limped to the sideline and later was carted to the locker room.

"That's the plan," Dawkins said when asked if he would be ready for the opener.

The injury news on Dawkins is a positive for the Eagles, who already have lost starting wide receiver Kevin Curtis for an extended period of time due to a sports hernia.

Still one of the game's hardest hitters, Dawkins missed six games last season due to a neck stinger.